🌊 The True Story of Greta Thunberg

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By Rafael Arbex-Murut

Last week, a group of activists departed on the British-flagged vessel Madleen and headed toward the Gaza Strip. The ship carried symbolic aid supplies such as baby formula, rice, and medical kits meant to be delivered to Palestinians, in an act of protest against Israel’s blockade.

The ship’s crew consisted of an eclectic mix of individuals from seven different countries, among them journalists, environmental campaigners, and a French member of parliament.

The most recognizable passenger, though, was also perhaps the youngest: Greta Thunberg.

Thunberg, now 22, has been one of the world’s most prominent environmental activists since she first gained attention in 2018. That year, at just 15, she skipped school to stage a solo protest outside Sweden’s parliament. Her handwritten sign, which read “Skolstrejk för klimatet” (“School Strike for Climate”) sparked a global movement.

Seven years later, Thunberg has found herself detained by Israeli authorities after attempting to breach the naval blockade of Gaza aboard a humanitarian “flotilla.” While her activism once focused squarely on climate science, it has now evolved to encompass broader social and political causes – including indigenous rights, “anti-colonialism,” and now, the war in Gaza.

How did a teenager with a sign become a symbol of global protest?

In today’s deep-dive, we trace Greta Thunberg’s path from a solo school protest to confrontation on international waters.

Thunberg was born in 2003 and raised in Stockholm, Sweden. She was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome (a form of autism) and selective mutism, a condition that she says allows her to speak “only when necessary.”

Her activism began at home, when she convinced her parents to adopt lifestyle choices such as cutting back on flying and meat consumption to reduce their carbon footprint. Soon, her campaigns expanded from home to public: At age 15, she began skipping school on Fridays to protest outside the Swedish parliament, where she held up her iconic “School Strike for Climate” sign.

At first, Thunberg sat alone. But soon enough, other students began joining her and the protest grew. The movement was dubbed “Fridays for Future” and spread internationally. By the end of 2018, more than 17,000 students in 24 countries had staged similar school strikes; by March of 2019, the protests had grown to over 2M people across 135 countries.

Greta’s rapid rise to prominence made her an internet sensation. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace prize, named one of Time magazine’s “most influential people,” and met the Pope – all before she had graduated from high school.

But her most iconic moment was yet to come.

Editor’s Note

Thanks for reading. Let us know what you think about today’s story by replying to this email. And don’t miss last week’s stories — read them below:

• Friends to Enemies: The Story of Iran

• Israel-Iran Conflict Begins

• The Palantir List

• The Co-Opting of Joe Rogan

• The Art of the Grift

That’s all, see you tomorrow.

–Max and Max